Spotlight



W. GEHRHG Feb. 24, 19m.

SPOTLIGHT Filed July 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 7 9 2 0 Wwf/wg .l 1

m'vENToR WALTER GEHmc-a ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1931. w GEHR|G 1,794,166

SPOTLIGHT Filed July 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR j@ WALTER GEHmG E l .E MM5/M ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1931` UNITED :STATES 'WALTER G'EHBIG', .0F HIGHLAND PRK, MICHIGAN SPOTLGHT .applicativa mea my 2s, 1930. serial No. 471,237.

This invention relates to spotlights, and

the object of the invention is to provide a spotlight adapted to be mounted on the cowl of an automobile and adapted for manual operation to turn the reflector o'f the spotlight in any desired direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for the spotlight so arranged as to take the weight of the spotlight off 1U from the cowl ofthe automobile.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a spotlight of the character described which may be locked in any position to which it is turned.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the spotlight may be turned completely around its vertical axis.

A iurther object of the invention is to provide a spotlight including a casing turnable about a4 vertical axis and a reflector mounted in the casing and pivoted on a horizontal axis, the said reflector being normally set at a slight angle in the frame.

A further ob'ect of the invention is to provide a spotlight having a control handle normally extending adjacent the instrument board of the automobile and adapted by movement to produce a corresponding movement of the spotlight.

These objects and the several novel fea- E tures of the invention are hereinafter more Jfully described and claimed, and the pre.-

ferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section showing the device as mounted on the cowl of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the spotlight and control mechanism. v Y

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-,3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section'taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the locking device for the spotlight in the locked position.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the connection between the locking wire and the locking ring. Fig'. 7 is. an elevation of the slot-ted clutch '5 member.

The device comprises a casing 1 formed of two halves Aas shown in Figs. 2 and 4 adapted to be secured to ether by means of thescrews or bolts. lOne half is provided with an ex- 5g tension 2 having a central aperture for the tubular shaft 3 and provided with -a flange at the bottom resting on the base plate 4. A reflector 5 is provided as shown in Fig. 2 having recesses 6 in opposite sides thereof. 60 adapted to receive' trunmons 7 which extend inwardly from the casing 1. The axis of the recesses 6 extend at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing 1 but the refiector is so positioned in relation to the recesses 6 `65 that the axis thereof extends at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing 1 and tends to throw the light to the right curb when the casing 1 is pointed straight ahead as indicated by the dotted lines shown in Fig. 4.

The reflector 5 at the rear is provided with a pair of lugs 8 in which a pin 9 is secured and this pin extends through a slot 10 in the upper end of the shaft 3. The casing 1 is 75 provided with Va partition 11 having a slot 12 therein and the upper end of the tubular shaft 3 is provided with a flattened angularly extending end 13 which `.extends into and rides in the slot 12. By this arrangement 8 upward or downward movement of the tubular shaft 3 will turn the reector 5 on the trunnions 7 and the slot 10 is provided in the end 13 of the shaft 3 to allow the pin 9 to move in the slot during turnin movement of the reflector. The portion 2 o the casing` 1 is provided with a tubular sleeve 14 extending downwardlythererom and the base plate 5 is provided with an annular rib 15 which extends up into the portion 2 and prevents 90 water from passing into the interior of the base plate 4 and' sleeve formed integrally therewith. The slcevcl is stationary and is secured in position by means of the bolts 5 17 which pass through the base plate 4, cowl 18 and throughthe washer'l9. The sleeve 14 fits within the sleeve 16 and the tubularwshaft 3 extends upwardly .throughthe sleeve 14 and member 2. The sleeve 16 at the bottom 1'0 is provided with a groove-20, whilepthe sleeve 14 at the bottom is provided with a groove 21. In order to hold these sleeves in proper relation, a bracket is provided 'comprising two halves 22 adapted to be secured together and having portions engaging in the grooves and 2l as shown in Fig. 2.

An arm 23 is attached to the bracket 22 and a bracket 24 is attached to the dash 25 of the automobile. The arm 23 is provided 20 with bolt slots 26 adapted to receive the bolts 27 and 28 and the bracket 24 is provided with an aperture for the bolt 27 and with anarcuate slot 29 for the bolt 28. By this ar# rangementthe arm' 23 may be firmly secured' in position to support the bracket 22 and take vt-h'e weight off from the cowl 18 of the automobile.

A. curved arm 30 is provided having an end 31 rotatable in the bracket 22 about the tubu! 30 lar shaft 3. iThe lower end of this arm 30 is pivotally connected to a bushing 32 in which a shaft 33 is slidable longitudinally The shaft 33 is hollow las shown in Figs. 2 and3 and is provided with a yoke 34 secured to 35 the end thereof. A U-shaped shoe 35 is supported between the ends of the yoke 34 and rides in the bottom of the groove 36 provided in the wheel 37. Thegroove 36 opens out into an angular faced groove 38 and the shoe 40 35 is providedwith sloping friction faces 39 adapted to enga e against t-he angular faces 38 of the wheel 3 By this arrangement the -handle 41 and shaft 33 may be swung through a horizontal arc and will turn' the tubular shaft 3 on its axis thus turning the casing 1 about the axis of the said shaft.

In order to lock the spotlightin any position, a conical slotted clutch member 42 is formed integrally with the bracket 22 and the shaft 3 extends therethrough. A clutch collar 43 is provided adapted to engage the clutch member 42 and an arm 44 is pivotally connected to the clutch collar 43 and to the arm 30. A rod 45 is pivotally connected to `the arm 44 and extends upwardly through of aABowden .wirc48 which may be moved from. the position shown in Fig. 5l to that showniirFig. 2 to move the toggle joint as shown. When the toggle joint is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the lug 49'on the toggle joint limits movement of the said joint and when in this position the arm 44 is moved .downwardly to disengage the clutch collar 43 46 draws the arm 44 and clutch collar 43 upwardly to engage the conical slotted clutchmember 42' which compresses the ends of the slotted conical clutch member 42 on the shaft 3 and causes this clutch member 42 to grip the shaft 3 and prevents movement thereof in any direction. By subsequently moving the sleeve 50 to the left of Fig. 2 the toggle joint 47i"xpanded to disengage the clutch collar 43 from the clutch member 42, at which time the shaft 3'is freed and the handle 41 may be turned in a horizontal plane to turn 'the shaft 3 and casing 1 or may be moved up or down in a vertical plane to produce correspondingvertical movement of the shaft 3. As the coil spring 40 holds the clutch facing 39 in engagement with the wheel 37 the shaft 3 will turn with the handle 41 and arm 30 and slide up or down according to the vertical motion of the yoke 34.

If the operator wishes to turn the spotllght through a complete revolution on its axis, the ball 41 and shaft. 33 may be drawn lon tudinally to the left of Fig. 2 against t e tension of-the spring 40 to disengage the clutch faces 39 from the companion faces in the wheel 37 and while held in this' position, the handle and shaft may be swung to move the clutch faces about the periphery of the wheel 37 and upon release of the handle the spring 40 will again move the clutch faces 39 into engagement in the groove of the wheel.

By this arrangement' the spotllght may be turned through a segment of a circle and the clutch 39 may be then reengaged in the wheel 37 to move the spotlight through further segments of the circle. By pushing the handle= 41 downwardly on its axis 51, the shaft 3 is moved upwardly thus turning the reiiector .5 on the trunnions 7 to focus the light downwardly, while by upward movement of the handle 41 the shaft 3-is m'ved downwardly to turn the reflector to focus the light upwardly. By this arrangement the casing carrying the reflector may be turned about a vertical axis,- while the reflector itself may be turned on its horizontal axis to direct the The wiring 52 is carried from a suitable @source of currentsupply'and through the hollow shaft 33 tothe switch 53 as shown and the -wire` 52 -is carriedfrorthe switch" 53 through i,

through the tubular shaft 3 'and into the interior of the reflector asshown at the upper end of Fig. 2. l

Normally the casing "straightahead, position on the c ar and in- .the shaft 133- -thence upwardly 1'- is locked vin a i -2.\ Ina spotlight,astationarybracket,aver-I movement ofthe shaft turns the reflectoren vits axis androtation of the shaft turns the cas ing therewith, a clutch member secured to the lower end of the shaft, an arm' adapted to swing about the axis ofl said shaft, a lever pivthis position the spotlight presents the best v\etally connected to said-arm, a handle on one appearance for 4daylight driving and is, at thesame time, in the position 'most used for night drivinghas in this position the light beam will be thrown to the right curb on account of the described angular-mounting, of

the reflector. When the spotlight is adjusted and locked in this or any other position, the handle 41 and shaft 33 can be swung out of way and out of view by disengaging the clutch faces 39 inthe manner heretofore described and then swinging said handle and shaft through a horizontal arc to any suit able position, such as, for'example, below the dash board or underneath the cowl.

From the foregoing description is becomes evident that the device is very simple and efficient' in operation, may be readily installed, provides a complete control of the spotlight from the interior of the automobile and provides a device which accomplishesv the objects described.

Having thus fully described my invention, Vits utility and mode of operation, what I' claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States isv e 1.v In a spotlight, a stationary bracket, a vertical shaft -rotatably mounted in the said bracket and movable vertically therein, acasing rotatable with the saidshaft, a reector mounted in the casing to turn on ahorizontal axis, means connecting the shaft with the reflector and with the casing whereby vertical movement of the shaft turns the re- Hector on itsaxis and rotation of the shaft turns the casing therewith, a portion of said bracket being shaped to provide a stationary clutch member, a movable clutch member, yieldable means normally urging the movable clutch member into engagement with the stationary clutch member,` the clutch mem' bers when engaging locking the vertical shaft -v from movement, manually operable means for releasing the clutch members to allow movement of the vertical'shaft, an arm rotatable about the vertical shaft, a lever pivotally and slidably mounted in the outer end` thereof, a handle at' one end of the lever,

a clutch member at the other end of the lever, a companion clutch member secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft, yieldable means urging said clutch members into engagement' and manually operable means for disengaging said clutch members.

end of the lever, a clutch member on the opposite endthereof adapted for engagement with the clutch member on the shaft, guide meansholding said clutch members in align.- ment when, disenga ed, yieldable means urging said'clutch mem ers into engagement, the lever being manually slidable on its pivot t0 disenvage the clutch members and allow turning ofa the lever and arm about the axis of the shaft.

3. In a spotlight, a stationary bracket, a verticalv shaft rotatably mounted in the saidbracket and movable vertically therein, a casing rotatable with the said shaft, a reflector mounted in the casing to turn on a horizontal axis, means connecting the shaft with the reiector and with the casing whereby vertical movement of the shaft turns the reflector on its axis and rotation of the shaft turns the casing therewith, a'stationary clutch member on said bracket, a movable clutch member, yieldable means y normally urging the movable clutch members into engagement with the stationary clutch member, the'clutch members when engaged locking the shaft from movement, and lmanually operable means for releasing the clutch members to allow movement of the vertical shaft.

4.11m a spotlight, -a stationary bracket, a vertical shaft rotatablymounted in the said bracket and movable vertically therein, a casing adapted to rotate with said shaft, a reflectorA mounted in said casing to turn on a horizontal axis extending at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing, the reflector being mounted to throw the light beam at a slight angle to the axis of said casing, means connecting the shaft with the reflector and with the casing whereby vertical movement of the shaft turns the reflector on its axis and roles lll

tation ofthe shaft turns the casing therewith arm, a handle slidable longitudinally of the bushing and adapted when turned in a vertical plane to move the shaft longitudinally, a clutch member carried by the handle, a companion clutch member secured to the lower end of the shaft, a spring normally urging the said clutch members into engagement, a stationary clutch member and a movable clutch member, a spring normally urging the movable clutch member into engagement with the stationary clutch member, the said last named clutch members when so engaged preventing movement of the shaft, and manually operable means for freeing the clutch mem-- bers to allow movement of the shaft.

6. In aspotlight, a casing mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a reflector mounted in the casing to turn on a horizontal axis, a vertical shaft extending into the casing, means connecting the shaft with the reflector and with the casingwhereby vertical movement of the shaft turns the reector on its axis and rotation of the shaft turns the casing therewith, an arm normally rotatable with the shaft, a bushing pivotall mounted in the end of the arm, a handle slldable longitudinally in the bushing, a clutch member carried by the handle, a companion clutch member secured to the lower end of the shaft, yieldable means normally urging the clutch members into engagement, a stationary clutch member, a movable clutch member, yielding means urging the movable clutch member into engagement with the stationary clutch member, a lever pivoted to said arm and secured to the movable clutch member, a toggle joint between the arm and lever adapted in one position to disengage the movable clutch member from the stationary clutch member and adapted in the other position to allow engagement of the Clutch members by the yieldable means, and manually operable means for moving the toggle joint from one position to the other.

7. In a spotlight, a casing mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a reflector mounted in the casing to turn on ya horizontal axis, a shaft extending into the casing, means connecting the shaft with the reflector and with the casing whereby vertical movement of the shaft turns the reliector on its horizontal axis and rotation of the shaft turns the casing therewith, an arm rotatable about the shaft, a bushing carried by the said arm, a handle slidable in the bushing, a clutch member on the lower end of the shaft, a companion clutch member carried by the handle, yieldable means between the bushing and handle normally urging the clutch member of the handle into enga ement with the clutch member of the shafgt, and manuallly operable means for locking the shaft from movement.

8. In a spotlight, a casing mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a reflector mounted in the casing to turn on a horizontal axis, a vertical shaft extending into the casing, means connecting the shaft with the reflector and with the casing whereb vertical movement of the shaft turns the re ector on its horizontal axis and rotation of the shaft turns the casing therewith, a handle extending at a right angle to the axls of the shaft and normally connected to turn the shaft when moved through a horizontal plane, and manually operable means for lookin the shaft from movement.

9. In a spotlig t, 'a casing, a shaft extending into the casin and turnable therewith, a reflector pivotal y mounted in the casing, means connecting the shaft with the reflector and with the casing whereby longitudinal movement of the shaft turns the reflector on its axis and rotation of the shaft turns the casing therewith, a handle for turning the shaft, clutch means between the handle and shaft, yieldable means normally holding the Y,

clutch means in engagement, and a pivotal support for the handle whereby movement' means connecting the shaft with the reflector 1 and with the casing whereby vertical movement of the shaft turns the reector on its horizontal Aaxis and rotation of the shaft turns the casing therewith, and a pivotally mounted handle adapted when moved through. a horizontal plane to turn the shaft on its axis and adapted when moved in a vell'sical plane to move the shaft longitudina y.

11. In a. spotlight, a casing mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a reflector pivotally mounted in the casing to turn on a horizontal axis, a shaft mounted to turn with the casing, the shaft being movable longitudinally in relation to the casing to turn the reflector on its pivot, a handle for turning the shaft on its axis, means connecting the shaft with the casing so that by turning the shaft the casing is turned therewith, and means for locking the shaft in stationary position.

12. In a spotlight, a casing mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a reflector mounted in the casing to turn on a horizontal axis, a vertical shaft extending into the casing, means connecting the shaftwith the reflector 'and .with the casing whereby vertical moveto compress the slotted ends thereof onto the shaft and locktthe shaft from movement and manually operable means for engaging u and disengaging the clutch members.

13. In a spotlight, a casing mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a reflector pivotally mounted in the casing to turn on a horizontal axis, a vertical shaft .extending into the casing and connected to turn the reector on its pivot by vertical movement of the shaft, a partition in the casing provided with a vertical slot, and a lug on the shaft riding in the slot whereby the casing may be turned by rotation of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I sign this speci- WALTER GEHRIG.

cation. 

